To still use a car seat for my 10 year old?

[ExcitedButNervous0424]

My son has recently turned 10 and still uses a high backed booster.

When I mentioned this to my friend the other day, whose son is a few months younger than mine, she practically laughed and said she can’t believes I still put my 10 year old in a car seat.

My son is always asking why he still has to use one as apparently, to quote him: “none of my friends do” but it’s always been non-negotiable for me. I always thought he was exaggerating when he said that none of his friends use car seats anymore (not even backless boosters) but judging from my friend’s reaction its made me wonder whether my son is actually right.

My friend said to think about how much I must be embarrassing my son when he has to use a HBB when his friends don’t use anything, but surely car safety isn’t about just letting him do what his friends do?

What’s the norm? Because her reaction really surprised me.

My DS was snowboarding, abseiling, mountaineering, go-carting and skydiving at 10 years old.

A car seat at 10 would not have been something we would have considered necessary.

DS was in a HBB until he was 10. Once he was too big for that he still couldn't sit properly in the back, so moved to a normal booster until such time as his legs were long enough. He was definitely in the minority among his peers, but he didn't care and I certainly wasn't going to move him out just because it wasn't "cool". His life is more important than other people's opinions.

Cat seat safety has always been a big thing for me though, he was rear facing until he was 4.

My 9 year old is over 140cm and she is still in a HBB. It’s convenient that she’s over the legal limit as it means that if she gets offered a lift from a party we don’t need to worry about supplying a seat now but I wouldn’t have her without one as standard or on motorways. 135 is the absolute minimum to be without a seat and there is a good reason why many countries say 150 or age 12.

All her friends are still in seats. She has never suggested it’s weird or uncool.

If she were still below the legal height limit and another parent told me I was the weird one for wanting to obey the law and keep her safe I’d think they were an idiot.

Trust your instincts OP.

Op I am with you. It's about experiencing a risk like that in your community. I am very affected by drink driving because I've experienced a double fatality. It's non negotiable for me.

Some kids will need them longer because they are short. I doubt they will be emotionally scarred for life!

Wow just so.....

My 10 year old is 130 cm and still in a high back booster OP. I’m hoping he’s 135 by the time he’s 11, if not I’ll probably move him to a backless booster.

@Jamfirstest what are you trying to say? I’m giving a different perspective on my DS’s 10 year old life? Why does this offend you?

Wow. Can't believe a majority of people on this thread think how 'cool' a child looks is more important than their safety in the case of an accident. All of my kids used HBB until they were over the height recommendation.

Presumably he uses the recommended safety equipment in these sports though? Or you just really couldn't give a shit about his safety? The fact he does high risk sports does not reduce his risk of injury in a car accident. What a strange comparison to make.

She probably felt like I do.

Amazed that you are so lax about car safety and taking precautions to keep your child alive, whilst allowing him to do risky activities where you probably do take every safety precaution possible?

Or are you not bothered about his safety during those activities either?

It isn't about finding the bars minimum safety reqs tho is it?

My dd almost 11 won't give hers up. Her friends are nice people and don't tease her. She is quite unusual though.

My 7yo is 137cm and technically doesn’t need a seat at all. I’ve explained to her that the high back is much safer. Despite being tall she wouldn’t meet the various tests for being able to sit in a normal seat without a car seat. We do have a booster cushion for spares and lifts that she uses if needed.

People are funny about car seats across all age groups. I’ve never really understood the rush to get to the next stage/get rid when it is objectively much safer not to.

We totally cross-posted but your post just backs up mine. Although yours was written more clearly than mine 😂

How tall is your 10 year old? Mine was above the legal requirement for the need to use child seats at 10 years old.

My 10 year old is 140cm but still in a booster as it’s more comfortable with the seat belt on his shoulder. A full on high back is unnecessary. The over 135cm “rule” is for when you want to use no car seat at all

My DD is 10 and still in her high back booster, never crossed my mind to take her out of it. I've survived a really serious car accident and it was no picnic.

Given the choice of her being embarrassed or maimed or dead I'd pick the seat.

He is 18 now at Uni and living his life to the full. Forgot to mention he did water skiing too. Thanks for your concern though 👍.

Then he didn’t need one did he. I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make?

I’m talking about children who do need one, but their parents don’t use them because it’s not seen as “cool” or the norm.

How tall is your DS at 10?

You don’t mention his height at all.

My parenting style was to listen to my DS and take his feelings into account.

Obviously if it’s a legal requirement then it’s non negotiable but as you’ve not stated that your circumstances dictate the need for a car seat at 10 years old I thought I would offer you a different perspective.

I said on Page 1 that he is 132cm.

The responses to this absolutely baffles me. People are ignorant about optimum safety and care more about their children's street cred than protecting them in a crash. My 10 year old (11 in August) and 136cm is in a high back booster. Her seat (Britax kidfix) has a maximum height guideline of 150cm, so I have no plans to take her out of it just because legally she can. A backless booster doesn't offer side impact protection.

My 10 year old is 137cm and still in a high backed booster. He's still below the weight limit of the booster and it makes the seatbelt sit in a much safer position across his chest.

When he gets too heavy for it, we'll review the situation. I don't understand people who ditch them early tbh

Ds is slim as anything I might keep him in his seat for longer when I've had to take younger children home in an emergency and they sit in his seat he looks so tiny and unsafe in a regular seat

Be more uncool to die in a crash because your mum thought car seats were embarrassing.

Your friend sounds like an idiot. I’d be ignoring her and also making sure she didn’t drive my child anywhere.